Page 23 of Defy the Highlander

Brody had his hand up on his head where she’d hit him and Lilia’s eyes widened.

“Brody!” she gasped. “I dinna know it was ye!”

He was grinning. “That’s the second time ye’ve hit me in the head,” he said. “I should have known better than tae surprise ye but I’ve been watching the streets for three days. God Bones, it’s good tae see ye. I’ve missed my angel.”

She grinned, a sweet and dreamy grin because his words brought back that familiar giddy feeling he was so capable of bringing about. But she put her hand on his head, rubbing the spot she’d struck.

“And I’ve missed ye, too,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry I hit ye. Will ye live?”

“Barely.”

“Good. Then ye can help me pick up these flowers. They’re for Lady Currie.”

Brody did as he was told, picking up the flowers, which had fortunately missed the sewage-filled gutter. Everything ended up back in Lilia’s basket and he took her by the hand.

“Let’s leave this place,” he said quietly. “Come with me.”

She did.

*

Brody’s destination was a loch south of Edinburgh, a surprising oasis in the midst of the filth of the town. It was just a small body of water, with waterfowl swimming beneath the branches of big willow trees, but it was quiet and seemingly a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The moment they reached the banks, Brody pulled Lilia into a crushing embrace and kissed her deeply.

The basket fell to the ground again.

His kisses were fierce and passionate, a testament to his longing for her over the past few days. He pulled her down onto the ground with him, his hands in her hair as he moved from her lips to her cheek, her ear. He kissed her gently, inhaling deeply of her scent once again, until he suddenly came to a halt.

He was fingering a greenish mark on her forehead.

“What is this?” he asked huskily.

Lilia, dazed and breathless from his attention, had no idea what he was talking about until she put her hand to the spot and realized that was where she’d hit her head when Colly had pushed her down the stairs.

“I fell and hit my head,” she said. “It will heal.”

“How did ye fall?”

She wasn’t going to lie to him. Not only had she always been a forthright person, but she felt something for Brody and she wasn’t in the habit of lying to people she cared about. Faintly, she sighed.

“Do ye remember the woman who found us in the stable yard?” she asked.

He nodded, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I do. The entire reason I was forced tae leave Hawkhill.”

Lilia nodded. “She and I have a… history,” she said. “Her name is Colly and she was Lady Currie’s nurse. She’s a vile, terrible woman. She beats the servants and tells Lady Currie that they’re lying when they complain. She has a particular hatred for me because Lady Currie likes me and she’s jealous of anyone Lady Currie likes. That is why I told ye tae leave – she has a grudge against me and I was afraid she would take it out on ye.”

“That still doesna tell me why ye have a bruise on yer head.”

“Because she pushed me down the stairs,” she said quietly. “I fear her grudge against me has taken a nasty turn. I’m the only servant of Lady Currie’s who fights back and she doesna like that.”

He frowned. “She pushed ye down the stairs?” he repeated, aghast. “She could have killed ye.”

“But she dinna,” Lilia said quickly. “The old hag canna get the better of me, but she’ll try. ’Tis a daily battle with that one.”

Brody didn’t say anything, but it was clear that he wasn’t pleased. He sat back on the grassy bank, his brow furrowed as he thought of the old cow harassing Lilia.

Nay, he didn’t like that one bit.

“Ye might not be so lucky if she does it again,” he said. “Have ye told Lady Currie?”